$10 Million in Diamonds Bedazzle at a Swank Memorial Mansion: Seven Security Guards Required, Guests Wowed

Seven security guards, eight suites of De Beers diamonds, $10 million in value and 100 awe-struck sophisticates, PaperCity‘s champagne-fueled soirée in the Memorial area home of John and Becca Cason Thrash had jaws dropping among the assembled diamond connoisseurs. So important was this gathering that De Beers managing director of Europe and the United States Sidonie Robert-Degove jetted in for the occasion from world headquarters in London.

Displayed on velvet pedestals, the dazzling high jewelry suites included De Beer’s latest collection, London by De Beers. Of the fluid, emblematic designs, Robert-Degove noted, “London is our muse for this collection as it follows along the path of the Thames . . . It is a tribute to London landmarks.” The five suites were created and named in honor of a handful of the city’s iconic structures — Albert Bridge, Battersea Light, Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben), London View, and Thames Path.

The collection was introduced last spring during Paris Couture week, then made a splash in New York in December with opening of De Beers new flagship, a two story townhouse on Madison Avenue.

As hostess, Cason Thrash accented her black Dior ensemble with the larger of the stunning Mosaic necklace duo. “I’m Cinderella for the night,” she cooed as guests swooned over the piece. “And then at 9:30, it all goes back.”

In the interim, she was riding high, joining PaperCity publisher Monica Bickers in welcoming guests and encouraging arrivals to sample the Ruinart champagne and to put calorie-counting aside in favor of the tempting hors d’oeuvres from A Fare Extraordinaire.

Scene: Jessica Rossman and Gordon Bethune, Francine Ballard, Luvi Wheelock, Catherine and Dr. Cenk Ozdogan, Rhonda McDonald, Fady Armanious, Lindley and Jason Arnoldy, Gregory Fourticq, Lucinda and Javier Loyal, Leigh Smith, Phoebe Tudor, Charles Clark, Valerie Fuller, Gillian Sarofim, Ford Hubbard III, Don Mafrige Jr., and Monsour Taghdisi.